905 Resume Insights by Tom Kaufmann

The Resume eBook For 905 Careers In Transition

Compiled and curated by Tom Kaufmann tkaufmann00@gmail.com

Table of Contents: 1. Your Resume ……………………………………………………………………………….

2. Your Value Proposition ………………………………………………………………. 15 3. Value Proposition Letter ……………………………………………………………. 21

4. Value Proposition Worksheet ………………………………………………………. 22 5. Value Proposition Examples ………………………………………………………… 26 6. Skills ……………………………………………………………………………….…………… 28 7. Cover Letters ……………………………………………………………….……………

8. Keywords ……………………………………………………………….………………….

9. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) ………………………………………………

10.Grammar, Acronyms and Abbreviations ……………………………………

11.Use of Buzzwords ………………………………………………………….………….

12.Punctuation ……………………………………………………………….………………

Your Resume Your resume is a Marketing Brochure not a biography. Resumes are used to exclude you, so delete anything that would get you ‘excluded’ – It’s sole function is to get you the interview! You will need at least two (2) versions of your resume: 1. One for the ATS system (plain vanilla, very little formatting) No text boxes! For the ATS your resume should be a MS Word.doc file, or a PDF with metadata (properties) removed (click on the video link below to learn how to do this) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcBvczrqWec 2. One for handing out in person, printed on quality paper attractive, possibly in different format with simple graphics or charts HOWEVER, it is safest to use only an MS word.doc so that recruiters can massage it, because your resume is for them - not you! The Ultimate Resume Guide (Note: This is not good for ATS, but cool looking resumes) https://enhancv.com/successful-resumes.html#experts

4 Metrics recruiters and hiring manager like to see on resumes https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/resume-metrics/

Your Resume Proofing Your Resume Have more than two(2) people schooled in proper English read it, hire a professional. Read it out loud. Start at the bottom paragraph and move up. ANY errors count against you, you will be tossed out of the pile. Re proof it when you make changes and updates or customize for a specific job description.

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Your Resume Increase your odds of getting an interview by over 100% Delete personal pronouns at the start of sentences in your resume and replace with action verbs! For Example accelerated, achieved, added, awarded, changed, communicated, contributed, coordinated, decreased, delivered, developed, eliminated, exceeded, expanded, gained, generated, grew, improved, increased, introduced, leadership, managed, maximized, minimized, optimized, owned, produced, reduced, saved, sold, and streamlined Read the following articles to read more about using powerful resume words. 45 Changes to get your resume noticed: https://www.themuse.com/advice/45-quick-changes-that-help-your-resume-get-noticed

Powerful resume words that will transform your resume: https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/best-and-worst-resume-words

Make Your Resume Infinitely More Beautiful https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-digital-tools-that-will-make-your-resume-infinitely-more-beautiful

The Complete Resume Format Guide: https://theinterviewguys.com/best-resume-format-guide/ https://www.themuse.com/advice/20-basic-resume-writing-rules-thatll-put-you-ahead-of-the-competition

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Your Resume ➢

Headlines: Make headlines bold, Italicise, CAPITALISE or underline. And feel free to increase the font size to 14-16 points

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Font: Because so many recruiters are reading resumes on-the-go, you'd also be smart to chose a font that's easy to read on a mobile device, which means a 12 point, sans serif font like Book Antique, Arial, Tahoma, Cambria, Georgia, Helvetica or Calibri.

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Value Proposition: Why I should talk to you, what do you specifically offer, and bring to the company (not flowery, vague general verbiage, that’s not searchable)? Resume/cover letter/profile should be somewhat provocative (mysterious / juicy), to prompt a phone call. You could call this section “Professional Summary, Skills, Areas of Expertise”. (See: Executive Summary, and Value proposition section)

Your Resume Types of Resumes ➢

1. Chronological: Recruiters like this format the best. Use years not specific dates)

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2. Functional: By Job Function, usually used when you have a gap in employment)

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3. Hybrid: Is a combination of the two types above.

Resume Critiques: There are websites like /r/resume and /r/critiquemyresume where you can post your resume or CV and get feedback on it from resume enthusiasts and HR professionals. Resume Templates: 447 professional resume templates and cover letters, as well as cover letter and resume writing help, and a free resume builder. Everything you need to create the perfect resume and land your dream job. bhttps://www.hloom.com/resumes/ Your resume should be written in 3rd person, whereas your LinkedIn profiles should be in 1st person JobScan’s Guide to resume formats: https://www.jobscan.co/resume-formats 905 Tip: If you’re on a good footing, ask previous employer for permission to say “still on staff” so you don’t have to show a job gap, and can say date “xx/xx/xxxx to the present or list your position as “current”. MA, MS, MBA becomes “Masters educated”.

Your Resume The Executive Summary https://www.publishthis.email/executive-summary-professional-profile-includes-your-value-statementbranding-statement-HJAhYuMjQ

Value Proposition (Below) – Used in resume, cover letters, proposition letter, elevated pitches and profiles . . . Can be used to answer “Tell me about yourself?” Objective Statements are gone. The are history and archaic. Professional resume writers have abandoned the objective statement for an executive summary, but young professionals still rely on them and many amateur resume writers still insist. There was a time when you would use the prime real estate at the top your resume to declare your objective, to tell prospective employers how you wanted “to obtain a position at a wellestablished organization with a stable environment where you could maximize your management skills and effectively utilize your experience to… blah, blah, blah.” Resume objective statements were all about what you wanted, not about what you could do for a prospective employer.

And that is precisely why your old-fashioned, objective-topped resume will make many professional resume writers shudder. Professional resume writers have replaced these messages with “Executive Summary (With a Value Proposition)” sections that sum up what skills the applicant brings the employer. This information is proprietary and unique for 905 members. © 2019

Your Resume

Identify the employer’s needs and how you fulfill them: Read the job description to determine what is most important: Once you’ve identified what skills the job needs, go through your resume to identify which of those skills you have. List the most relevant experiences that pertain to each skill set.

Understand it’s YOUR story: When you write a bullet point, ask yourself, “Could just about anyone say this?” If the answer is yes, rewrite.

Your Resume

This information is proprietary and unique for 905 members. ÂŠ 2019

Your Resume

This information is proprietary and unique for 905 members. ÂŠ 2019

Your Resume Use Of Bullet Points Bullet 1 - The Pitch Summarize yourself in a sentence (e.g., “Creative biochemist with demonstrated leadership skills and 7 years experience in immunology and cancer biology research”)

Bullets 2-3 – The Skills Emphasize the most relevant skills you have tailored to the job description (e.g., “Deep expertise in mathematical modeling in monte carlo simulations, performing numerical analysis on large data sets and data visualization”) Bullets 4-5 – The Fit Highlight your soft skills and anything else impressive that defines you (e.g., “Former professional poker player well-prepared for an environment of rapid decision-making and financial risk”) To get started on your executive summary, here are some questions to ask yourself to help flesh out each bullet point.

Your Resume Brainstorm Your Content Before you begin drafting your executive resume summary, you’ll want to dedicate some serious thought to what you’d like to say. Not sure where to start? These brainstorming questions should get you moving in the right direction. •

If I could tell a hiring panel just three things about myself, what would they be?

•

What career achievements am I most proud of? (That FIT the job description.

•

What are my areas of expertise?

•

What are my most valuable intangible traits (e.g. pragmatic, relentless, entrepreneurial)?

•

What would I like to achieve next?

•

What unique skills, traits, or experiences do I bring to the table?

Your Resume Quantify Your Achievements Assigning a tangible metric to the achievement(s) you choose to highlight in your summary boosts credibility and provides context. Here’s what that might look like: •

Grew net revenue by 23% in just six months.

•

Reduced IT infrastructure overhead by 40% by transitioning from company-leased data centers to a public cloud.

•

Restructured customer success function, resulting in 30% increase in revenue and 74% decrease in client attrition.

•

Quantify your achievements, Start with an active verb: Use the formula “accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]” and recruiters will take notice.

Best resume action verbs: https://www.themuse.com/advice/185-powerful-verbs-thatwill-make-your-resume-awesome https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/action-verbs-to-make-yourresume-stand-out

Your Value Proposition Identify Your Value Proposition Your value proposition is comprised of your unique blend of skills, personality, and expertise – the things that make you attractive to an employer. It answers the question, “why should we hire you?”

If you already have a solid handle on your areas of expertise, great! But if you aren’t quite sure what your unique value proposition is, it may help to work backwards. Start by reflecting on why you think a company might be interested in hiring you. Are you a dynamite change agent? A bona fide finance guru? A proven revenue-generating wizard? Below are four steps to develop a strong PVP: Including 'Quantifying"! 1.

Set a clear target. The PVP begins with a target, one that needs what you have to offer. You’ll prefer some directions, not others. Targeting will make you most effective.

Know the Employers You’re Targeting. Think from the perspective of the employer and ask yourself the following questions: a)

Which companies am I targeting? What industry or industries do I want to focus on?

What do the employers in my target industry need?

What problems do they need to have resolved?

What do they value in a (position title)?

Your Value Proposition 2.

Identify your strengths. It may sound obvious, but what you know and what you can do are the foundation of your PVP. Hone in on what those are. a)

What professional skills have you always received praise or compliments on?

What past projects have gone exceptionally well for you?

What particular skills did those projects involve?

Either by your colleagues or in previous performance reviews, what adjectives have been used to describe you? 3.

Tie your strengths to your target position. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t leave it up to the employer to figure out how your strengths relate to what she needs. Let your PVP tightly connect you to the position. Connect the dots for her. Consider her perspective and know why she should hire you or promote you.

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Your Value Proposition Make the Connection Between Your Experience and Their Biggest Need. 1. How

do your previous accomplishments, successes, and experience point to how you can resolve the employer’s greatest problems or needs?

2. What

value or results do you offer the potential employer? Most employers will make the assumption that a previous result/accomplishment is repeatable. If you’ve done it once, they’ll assume you can do it again. This is great when it comes to proving you can deliver value.

TIP: Prove the value you offer with numbers and percentages. There’s something about numbers. They make statements more believable. Include numbers, percentages, or other metrics when you’re writing your value proposition. How much revenue did you generate, time did you save, or client satisfaction did you improve? How much more efficient will things operate?

Your Value Proposition 4.

Provide evidence and success stories. Your strengths may be what an employer is “buying,” but your achievements are the evidence you have those strengths. They make your case convincing. Some people prepare a non-confidential portfolio to showcase that evidence in a vivid way. They collect reports they wrote that had impact. They pull together facts on measurable achievements such as sales growth or cost reduction. Use Your Strengths. 1.

Think about the answer to: “I should hire this candidate because …” Include two or three reasons based on your USP or SWOT analysis and incorporate numbers or percentages into the sentences.

Edit the sentences until you’re able to clearly communicate your value proposition in one to two sentences max. Be as specific as possible.

Strong value propositions deliver tangible results. Your value proposition should also be able to quantify one of these: • Increased revenues

• Increased market share

• Faster time to market

• Decreased employee turnover

• Decreased costs

• Improved customer retention levels

Your Value Proposition When to use a ‘Value Proposition’ Letter What is a value proposition when you're job hunting? In the business world, a value proposition is a summary of why a consumer should buy a company’s product. In a job search, a value proposition is a summary of why an employer should hire a job seeker. A value proposition letter is a brief statement written by a job seeker to a recruiter or hiring manager. The statement concisely explains what makes the job seeker a unique job candidate (including skills, strengths, and accomplishments), and how he or she will add value to a company. A job seeker can use his or her value proposition throughout the job search. For example, one can use it as one’s resume summary statement, or use it to answer particular interview questions that ask you to define yourself as a job seeker (such as “tell me about yourself” and “how you are different from the competition?”). Writing and sending out a value proposition letter to prospective employers is a great way to demonstrate what makes you a unique candidate, and how you can add value to a company.

Your Value Proposition The Difference between a Cover Letter and a Value Proposition Letter A cover letter typically highlights what you have done in previous positions, whereas a value proposition letter explains what you will do if you are hired for the current position. Thus, a cover letter often focuses on the past, and a value proposition letter focuses on the present and future. Cover letters and value proposition letters also differ in length. A cover letter is typically 3 - 5 paragraphs (about one typed page), whereas a value proposition letter is often much shorter â&#x20AC;&#x201C; about 100 - 150 words. Both documents can be very useful in the job search process, but it is important to know when to use which document.

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Value Proposition Letter Sample Value Proposition Letter: Dear Mr. Basil, Are you looking for an experienced leader capable of meeting all your hiring requirements while saving you money by improving efficiencies? As a Director of Recruiting with over ten years of experience, I will successfully hire ideal candidates for positions in every department through cost-efficient best practices and advertising strategies. As the Director of Recruiting, I will achieve the following results for Acme Consulting: •

Increase retention rate of hire employees by 20%

•

Reduce recruiting budget by 10%

•

Implement online applicant tracking system to increase efficiency

As an innovative new startup company, you will benefit from a similarly innovative, experienced leader. I will call next week to discuss the opportunities I can bring to your company.

Value Proposition Worksheet What is your value to the employer answers the question: “Why should we hire you?” or “I should hire this candidate because … ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________

The Pitch (Summarize yourself in one sentence) ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ What is the one thing the hiring manager should know about you?

___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ How would you describe yourself in a sentence? ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________

Value Proposition Worksheet Employer’s needs (pain point) – Possibly from Job description ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ How you fulfill those needs: ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ What are my areas of expertise? ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ Emphasize your most relevant skills (tailored to job description): ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Value Proposition Worksheet The fit (possibly soft skills â&#x20AC;&#x201C; something impressive to stand out from the crowd: ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ How would colleagues and friends describe you, what adjectives? ___________________________________________________________________ What are my most valuable intangible traits (e.g. pragmatic, relentless, and entrepreneurial)? ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ What are my most valuable intangible traits (e.g. pragmatic, relentless, and entrepreneurial)? ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________

This information is proprietary and unique for 905 members. ÂŠ 2019

Value Proposition Worksheet Quantify your achievements Start with an active verb: Use the formula â&#x20AC;&#x153;accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]â&#x20AC;? Prove the value you offer with numbers and percentages: _____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________ What makes you DIFFERENT from your competition? (if anyone could say this, leave it off) ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________

Value Proposition Examples: When it comes to length, a paragraph like this is ideal, but remember to only focus on relevant information. Management professional with more than 10 years of experience in leadership, sales, and customer service. Self-motivated with prior success building and leading high-performance organizations. Generated $1 million in revenue within the Ontario region by both increasing sales within the existing client base and bringing in new business from referrals. Highly collaborative team leader inspiring superior performance by developing, coaching, and mentoring employees. Visionary change agent with a consistent record of transforming challenges into expansive business opportunities. This information is proprietary and unique for 905 members. ÂŠ 2019

Value Proposition Examples When it comes to length, a paragraph like this is ideal, but remember to only focus on relevant information. Management professional with more than 10 years of experience in leadership, sales, and customer service. Self-motivated with prior success building and leading high-performance organizations. Generated $1 million in revenue within the Ontario region by both increasing sales within the existing client base and bringing in new business from referrals. Highly collaborative team leader inspiring superior performance by developing, coaching, and mentoring employees. Visionary change agent with a consistent record of transforming challenges into expansive business opportunities. Prolific, full stack web developer with a passion for metrics and beating former "best-yets." Prototyped 25 new product features per year for Flexor, Inc. Decreased rework by 22% and costs by 15%. Consistently receive high user experience scores for all web development projects, including a 55% increase for Flexor, Inc. Passionate about building world class web applications. One of my sites received a 2015 Webby for Best Navigation and Structure. Chartered Financial Analyst with 5+ yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience, seeking to leverage proven cost, revenue, and budget maximization skills for Capital One. Saved HUDA Inc. $2.7 million by identifying low-margin projects. Improved pricing scheme at MRI International. Grew customer retention 32%.

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Value Proposition Examples Energetic software engineer with 7+ years experience developing robust code for highvolume businesses. Increased code-efficiency of XYZ Corp customer portal by 55%. Boosted customer retention by 25%. Spearheaded a team that won the 2016 BOSSIE Award for cloud computing. An enthusiastic team player and deep creative thinker. Experienced growth marketer with a background in sales and 5+ years experience growing conversion rates for a San Francisco mobile carrier. Seeking to leverage leadership excellence to raise KPIs for Symantec. At Innotech, raised CTR by 30% and slashed production costs 15% by strategic supplier sourcing. Energetic mechanical engineer with 9+ yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience. Seeking to use proven process and production design skills to advance manufacturing excellence at Boeing. Increased production efficiency by 35% at Raytheon IADC. Decreased costs 28% and cut lead times by 22%. Lowered defects 32% department-wide. Spearheaded the team that received the Shingo Prize in 2017.

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Skills What is a skill? The “Skills Section” of your Executive Summary, could be titled: “What I bring to the table”, even better “Areas of Expertise” or “Key Proficiencies” Is “strong work ethic” a skill or a personality trait? Understanding the difference is crucial when you want your skills on a resume stand out. Skill is the ability to do something that requires training, experience, or practice. Skills can be taught, and they can be forgotten, such as: HTML, copywriting, contract negotiations, public speaking, etc. Trait is something you were born with, a quality that makes you different from other people. For instance: hardworking, sociable, motivated, etc. Now, remember. Only put your hard skills on your resume. Your personality traits (or transferable skills) can usually be obvious from the things you’ve accomplished. This information is proprietary and unique for 905 members. © 2019

Skills Types of Skills Not sure what skills to include? Here's a list of resume and cover letter keywords you can use to describe your skills, as well as lists of resumes skills for a variety of occupations and types of jobs. Soft vs. Hard Skills Skill sets include both hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are teachable abilities or skills that can be quantified. Soft skills are subjective interpersonal skills (such as “communications,” “leadership,” “teambuilding,” or “motivational” skills) that are much harder to quantify. Both types of skills may be included on a resume and in cover letters. Here's more information on the difference between hard skills and soft skills, and a list of soft skills. Job Specific vs. Transferable Job-specific skills are those abilities that allow a candidate for employment to excel in a particular job. Some skills are attained by attending school or training programs. Others can be acquired through experience learning on the job. Job-specific skills vary based on the position. For example, an IT help desk worker needs computer skills, teachers need lesson planning skills, and carpenters need skills working with power tools. This information is proprietary and unique for 905 members. © 2019

Skills Job-specific skills can be contrasted with transferable skills like communication, organization, presentation, teamwork, planning, and time management, which are required in a broad array of jobs. Transferable skills are those that you use in almost every job. Both types of skills can be included in a resume. Not Every Skill Should Be Included in Your Resume While listing your skills is a good thing, not every skill you possess needs to be - or should be - included. First and most important: Do not list skills that you do not actually have. Leave off obsolete skills (that program you learned to use in the dawn of computer technology, for instance). Plus, there is no need to include skills that do not relate to the job at hand. Below is a link to an article on 250 hard/soft skills you can use in your resume: https://resumegenius.com/how-to-write-a-resume/skillssection-writing-guide This information is proprietary and unique for 905 members. ÂŠ 2019

Cover Letters When to Use a Cover Letter When an employer asks for a cover letter. If a job application specifically requests that you send a cover letter with your application, be sure to do so. If you do not follow directions exactly, you risk having your application thrown out. When you need to explain something on your resume. If there is something on your resume that could give a hiring manager pause â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an employment gap, for example â&#x20AC;&#x201C; your cover letter is your chance to explain these circumstances, and emphasize why you are the right person for the position. A value proposition letter does not provide enough space for you to explain these things, so write a cover letter when a longer explanation is needed.

When to Use a Value Proposition Letter When an employer does not specifically ask for a cover letter. When a job application does not specifically request a cover letter, you should still send a letter that explains your qualifications for the position. However, you can choose to send a value proposition letter in place of a cover letter if there are no specific directions. When you are conducting a targeted direct mail campaign. If you are emailing prospective companies to see if they have any job openings that fit your abilities, consider sending a value proposition letter rather than a cover letter. Busy employers often do not have time to read an entire cover letter, and will likely appreciate the directness of a value proposition letter. They will also appreciate a letter that emphasizes what you can do for their company. This information is proprietary and unique for 905 members. ÂŠ 2019

Keywords Check Out Job Postings: Once you identify what your next job title should be, look at job postings for the job title and its variations. From there, review the terms that appear often You need to optimize (include) keywords in both your profile and resume: To be searchable and recognized by the ATS software and to connect you with the job description! Use key words, the main ones 3-5X, include a Skills Section. Demonstrate with numbers (quantify). Apply within the first four days of being posted, apply on Mondays, apply between 6am and 10am. Start your sentences with distinct/strong action verbs and not with a personal pronoun.

“I had my resume on hand as I read this article and was mildly surprised to see how I was aligned with the tips espoused here. I must also say after eleven interviews with this resume, I was offered and accepted my # 1 choice!”

1. Skills: https://www.job-hunt.org/linkedin-job-search/indeed-jobtrends-research.shtml

2. Job Titles: “Job description bingo” https://www.thebalance.com/job-titles-a-z-list-2061557 https://www.thebalance.com/job-titles-a-z-list-2061557

Applicant Tracking Systems How an Automated Tracking System (ATS) Works ATS systems are used to select you OUT, do not give them extra reasons to reject you.

ATS systems weed out up to 85% of resumes before they are EVER read by humans:

How to beat the ATS Systems ATS Resume Test: Check your resume’s compliance How Applicant Tracking Systems Fool Job Seekers 8 Things You Need To Know About Applicant Tracking Systems

Grammar, Acronyms and Abbreviations Acronyms In general, you should always spell out the full technology name especially the first time you use it with the short form placed in parentheses immediately after the phrase. Once you have used an acronym in parenthesis, you may use it throughout the rest of the document. You do NOT want to be eliminated from consideration because youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve missed using a relevant keyword when submitting your resume online, which most likely will be put through an automated tracking system (ATS) that checks for specific keywords. The hiring manager may understand what the acronym, abbreviation or jargon means, but the company HR person may not. Additionally, your goal is to make it through the ATS system and your cover letter should be tailored to the person who will be reading it. Acronyms and jargon that are company or industry specific should be written in a generic way, so that it can be understood by anybody outside that circle.

Another thing to be conscious of is when an acronym stands for different things in different industries. Also, do not assume someone in your own industry will be the first person screening your resume.

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Grammar, Acronyms and Abbreviations A general rule of thumb when using acronyms, jargon, slang, or clichés is to use them on your resume only when you are absolutely sure they will be universally understood. When in doubt, don’t use them and avoid using them entirely in cover letters. Remember, acronyms should always be capitalized. Below are some examples: ➢

The St. Thomas University of Public International Diplomacy (STUPID)

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Graphical User Interface (GUI)

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Greatest of all Time (GOAT)

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Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)

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Automated Tracking System (ATS)

Grammar, Acronyms and Abbreviations Abbreviations Abbreviations are old school and will date you. Never abbreviate anything in a resume or cover letter. Acceptable Exceptions: Abbreviating is fine, as long as it's understandable. ➢

State abbreviations: CO, CA, OR, etc.

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Standard business abbreviations – Examples are: K = 1000, M = Millions, B = Billions

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Academic abbreviations: B.A. = Bachelor of Arts, MBA = Master of Business

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Times & Dates - Examples are: Jan, Feb, Mon, Tue, a.m. p.m.

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Units of measurement – Examples are: in. = inches, ft. = feet, lbs. = pounds

Use of Buzzwords Make sure you are choosing the proper key words. Only use words that mirror what the job description uses. Jargon can represent a sort of “private members club” speaking-in-code type of language. At their worst, buzzwords are meant to show-off one’s status or knowledge and can come across as pompous. Since buzzwords can be both bad and good, how can you tell when to use them and when it’s best to avoid them? Below are a few things to ask yourself when you’re unsure whether to use a buzzword: 1.

Is there a simpler way to communicate the idea you’re trying to convey?

Does the buzzword add little or serve to only illustrate lazy writing?

Will your readers understand this buzzword?

Am I only using the word to show-off or try to sound like one of the cool kids?

Conversely, if this buzzword isn’t used, does that imply that I don’t really know what I’m talking about?

Use of Buzzwords Below are a few buzzwords that are definitely reaching their expiration date. As tempting as they may be to use, try to avoid them if you can. They’ve become a bit tired and overused: • Move the needle • Think outside the box • Leverage

• Drill down • Take something offline • Give something 110% • Action item

• Get on the same page • Buy-in • Low-hanging fruit

Punctuation Use of Hyphens Hyphenate a compound modifier (two words used as one) when it comes before a noun, and don’t hyphenate it when it comes after a noun. For example, an old-furniture salesman clearly deals in old furniture, but an old furniture salesman would be an old man. Below are some common examples found in job descriptions or in resumes: • Hands-on position

• Part-time job

• High-volume order

• 4-year Degree

• High-precision motor

• Cross-functional Job

• World-class publication

• Value-Added

• High-quality work

• Forward-thinking person

Exceptions: When mirroring the company’s posted job description. However, be careful here as the person who wrote the job description, may have used a hyphen incorrectly or omitted a hyphen where one should have been used.

Punctuation Use of Commas Whether it is correct to use a comma before a coordinating conjunction ("and", "but", "or", "nor", "for", "yet", "so") depends on the situation. There are three primary uses of conjunctions: When a coordinating conjunction is used to connect two independent clauses, a comma is always used. Using a comma before the last item in a list is known as the Oxford Comma, sometimes the Serial Comma. It is used before conjunctions in a list like this with three or more items. Its use is purely written style and optional. Learn more about grammar & punctuation Still have questions? Check out the AP Style Guide Cheat Sheet

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905 Careers In Transition

Compiled and curated by Tom Kaufmann tkaufmann00@gmail.com

ÂŠ 2019